GIVING AND ASKING HELP IN RELATIONSHIP TO KARMA
Evelyn and Sifu Leo sparring
Question 5
I am used to do as much as possible myself without asking for help, Not because of, but like stated in the quote of Confucius:
“Expect much from yourself and little from others and you will avoid incurring resentments.”
Although it is not as effective as good thoughts and good words, helping others is a good deed and creates good karma for the person that is providing help.
But what about the person who asks for help?
If I ask someone for help, I am providing this person with an opportunity to increase his good karma. Isn’t this a good deed too?
As I dislocated my thumb in training recently, I had my right hand plastered for two weeks and still wanted to do everything possible myself. Suddenly this question came through my mind.
I would highly respect your opinion on this. Thank you very much and thanks to Roland Siheng for opening this thread.
Sifu Leonard Lackinger
Answer
What is good, and what is evil?
Whatever that brings benefit to oneself and others is good, whatever that brings harm is evil.
Helping others brings benefit to oneself and others. Thus it is a good deed, and results in good karma.
It brings benefit to the person providing help because it makes him happy. It brings benefit to the receiver of help because it enables him to overcome some difficulty.
Asking for help also brings benefit to oneself and others. Thus it is also a good deed, and results in good karma.
It brings benefit to the person asking for help as it enables him to overcome some difficulty. It brings benefit to the person providing help because it gives him an opportunity to create good karma.
Wanting to do everything possible yourself despite some handicap is a good deed, and brings good karma. It brings you benefit because it makes you feel independent and confident, and enables you to improve yourself. It also avoids incurring resentments from others, as Confucius said.
If you ask others for help, you provide them with an opportunity to increase their good karma. Then, why does it incur resentments?
If they help you, they increase their good karma. If they refuse to help you, you incur resentments in them.
The above is reproduced from the thread 10 Questions to the Grandmaster about Zen in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum
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